Allentown Symphony, conductor win national award

Allentown Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Diane Wittry have been selected winner of the 2014 American Prize, a national award that recognizes best performing artists, ensembles and composers in the United States

The orchestra won the prize in the professional orchestra division. It was chosen from three finalists: The Odysseus Chamber Orchestra of McKinney and Frisco, Texas, and conductor Jason Lim finished second and the Michigan Philharmonic of Plymouth, Mich., and conductor Nan Harrison was third.

The orchestra was selected from applications received nationwide this summer. The competitions are judged on recorded performances.

The judges said in written remarks that the orchestra, “has much potential, especially playing contemporary works,” according to the awards’ website, www.theamericanprize.com.

“It’s quite an honor,” Wittry said. “We’re absolutely thrilled.”

Wittry said The American Prize is a relative new, nonprofit award that has quickly gained attention from orchestras nationwide. It was founded in 2009 by Hat City Music Theater, Inc., a performing arts organization based in Danbury, Conn.

Wittry said its biggest purpose is to shine a spotlight on orchestras other than the large, nationally known ones.

”I’m so proud of the orchestra and how well we play, and not enough people know that,” Wittry said. “That’s exactly what this award is designed for.” She said it was the first time Allentown Symphony entered the competition, and “it’s really quite an honor, for the first time we applied, to be the winner.”

Winners get cash prizes of up to $500 and professional adjudication, and are profiled with videos and audio excerpts on The American Prize website.

“Our orchestra plays with such heart, and that comes through on these recordings,” Wittry said. “Not just technical proficiencies, but there’s a passion and it’s very compelling playing. Sometimes it helps to convey that quality to people who have never been to hear us.”

The awards were selected by a panel of musicians, vocalists, conductors, composers representing nearly every region of the country, the organization said in a release. Chief judge was David Katz, a conductor, award-winning composer, playwright, actor and arts advocate.

"Most artists will probably never win a Grammy awards, or a Pulitzer or a Tony, or even be nominated," Katz said. "But that does not mean that they are not worthy of recognition and reward. Quality in the arts is not limited to the coasts, or to the familiar names, or only to graduates of the most famous schools. It is on view all over the United States, if you take the time to look for it.”

The Lehigh University Philharmonic and conductor Eugene Albulescu were finalists for the award in 2010.